Compact liquid dispenser



Nov. 1, 1960 H. E. RITTENHOUSE COMPACT LIQUID DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 9, 1956 flitt v INVENTOR. Howard E. Klttcnhousc ATTORNEY 61243! LJJJ Nov. 1, 1960 H. E. RITTENHOUSE 2,958,291

COMPACT LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 9, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.1 Hpwdrd [.Riltcnhousfl BY 3 WK v AT TORNE Y Nov. 1, 1960 w H. E.RITTENHOUSE 2,958,291

COMPACT LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 9, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.Howard E. R-L ttenhousc A TTORNEY Nov. 1 1960 H. E. RITTENHOUSE cqmmcwuqum msmxsza e Sheets-Sheet 4 l I [Iki39 Filed April 9, 1956 INVENTOR.Howard E. Ri ttcnhoase Him ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1960 H. E. RITTENHOUSECQMPACT LIQUID DISPENSER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 9, 1956 INVEN TOR.

A T TORNE Y W Howard ERHtcnh we Nov. 1, 1960 H. E. RITTENHOUSE 2,958,291

COMPACT LIQUID DISPENSER Filed April 9, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.Howard E.RlllC71}l0l-(;c

BY %//%W ATTORNEY COMPACT HQ illnrsr-nNsER Howard E. Rittenliouse,Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Tokheim Corporation, Fort Wayne, End, acorporation of Indiana Filed Apr. 9, 1956, Ser. No. 576,842

6 Claims. (Cl. 10'3--42) This invention relates to a compact, liquiddispenser. More specifically it relates. to a liquid dispenser which isespecially adapted for use in dispensing fuels for farm use. It isusableeither in connection with an underground tank or directly upon theusual steel barrel.

it is an object of the invention to. produce a dispenser of the kinddescribedwhich is compact and economical to manufacture.

Another object of theinvention' is to provide a structure which is longlived and of rugged construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser having amotor operated lay-pass valve which will reduce the loadon the motor,during by-passing, below that imposed on it during dispensing.

Yet another object of'the invention is to provide a simplified switchcontrol and'nozzle support.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a compact pump, motorand valve arrangement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel hose supportand'hose arrangement which will enable a relatively long hose to besupported on arelatively low structure.

A further object of 'the invention is to provide apump apparatuscoupling whichwill permit the apparatus to be rotated to and'held in anydesired rotation position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a coupling which isprovided with vent ports for admitting air to the tank throughthe spacebetween the suction and supporting pipes.

Still another object ofthe invention, is to provide a coupling of thekind described in. which shielding means are provided exteriorly of theports to prevent the entrance of snow and rain.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a coupling ofthekind described inwhichmeans' are provided. to screen the ports toprevent the entrance offoreign objects.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a simple These and otherobjects will become apparent after a study of this specification. andthe drawings which are attached hereto, made a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 isa front elevation of the upper portion of the dispenser withparts shown in section.

Figure 2 is asectional view of the lower portion of the dispenser takensubstantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3v is a sideelevation ofthev device of Figure 1 with parts shownin section to expose the switch mechanism.

Figure4 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the dispenser viewedfrom the left of Figure 2 and partially sectioned to show the checkvalve.

Figure 5 is a sectional view ofthe dispenser taken substantially on line5-5-of- Figure 2.

Figure 6 isatop plan'viewof thedispenser:

2,958,291 Patented N ov. 1, 1960 Figure 7 is .a'detailed view ofthenozzle support and switch actuator, and.

Figure Sis a front elevation of the dispenser showingthe'storedarrangement of the hose on the dispenser.

General structure Referring first to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the numeral1 represents a supporting pipe which may be screwed into a suitablefitting at the top of anunderground tank, in a suitablebase orwhich maybe set in a cement slab (not shown). An air vent and screen coupling 3is screwed on the upper end of the pipe and is adapted to receive thethreaded boss 5 on the manifold casting 7 which forms a part of thedispenser. The thread on the boss is preferably a straight thread and awing nut 9 is mounted thereon to act as a jam nut for holding the bossagainst rotation in the coupling after the dispenser has been rotated toface in the desired direction.

The vent ports 11 in the couplingare shielded by the conical flange orshield 13and a cylindrical screen 15 is insertedin a recess 16 formedthecoupling, .in a posi tion to cover the ports. Grooves 17 are formedin the coupling to form seats for. the screen which is heldexpanded'andin position by the snap. rings 19. The ends of the screen abut the endsof therecess;

The flange or shield 13 prevents the direct entrance of Water, ice: andsnow into the pipe 1 andthe associated tank .while the. screen preventsthe entrance ofxdirt,

insectsand other foreign objects Whilepermitting the entrance of air toreplace the liquid withdrawn by the pump or the discharge of air whilethe tank is being filled.

Boss Sis also internally threadedat 21 to receive the suction pipe '23the lower end of .which'may be provided with a. foot valve of anysuitable. typetnot shown).

It should also be noted at this point that the. pipe 1 and couplingfimay be omitted and that'the boss-5 carrying pipe 23, may be screweddirectly into the bung ofa steel barrel containing the fuel.

Pump, motorand manifold" structure The manifold. 7 defines aninletchamber 25. which communicates. with the suction pip eandwitha.checkvalve'chamber. 27-through the channel29" (see. also. Fig ure..5).A checkvalve assembly-3l of any suitable. de-- sign ismounted inthechamber to prevent drainageof liquid. from the. dispenser.

at. its. upper end and. a.spring-.- seatv 38- at:.the. other.

guide.

A-tire valveAiZ is mounted-in thesterniandiserves as a relief .valve.

A flange. 460m casting7 extends radiallyjinto the chamber '27 and theO-ring.44-:restsagainst thelower side of. the. flange. The flanges 50andtS Z of the Valve seat and guide contact the other side ofithe, oring-and acylindrical sleeve 54having a number of-ports 56:rides onthebottorn face of the. flange 5th The sleeve isguided in a .bore 58inthe manifold and acover plate 60 which.

is sealingly held on the manifold by screws 62..moves the sleeve, guideand seat upwardly as the screws'are drawn up, to compress the gasket andseaLthe. joint at the flange at the other end of the chamber. Acounterbore 59 re A bore 57 which leads to the exteriorof-the.manifoldisdisposedceives an O-ring gasket 61 which seals between the manifold anda cover plate 63. The plate is held on the manifold by suitable screws65 which serve to compress the gasket.

The strainer comprises a pair of concentric cylindrical screens 67, 69which have their ends disposed in U- shaped grooves 71 in the heads 75which are held compressed on the ends of the screens by a tie rod 77.Ports 79 are formed in the heads to pass liquid to the interior of theinner screen 67. Screen 69 may be of finer mesh than screen 67 ifdesired or either screen may be used alone.

The peripheral portions of the heads 75 fit closely in the recess 55 andbore 57 to prevent liquid from by-passing the strainer. The strainer isremovable as a unit through the bore 57 when the plate 63 has beenremoved and the strainer is readily taken apart for cleaning orreplacement of the screens by merely removing a nut from one end of thetie rod.

By-pass valve structure As shown particularly in Figure 5, the suctionchamber 53 has a first opening 81 and a second opening 83 which passthrough the wall of the manifold which is also provided with a valveport 85, surrounded by a seat 87, disposed immediately adjacent 83, toserve as the inlet to the discharge chamber 89.

A cover 91 is fixed to the exterior of the manifold so as to overlie theopenings 81, 83 and 85. A diaphragm member 93 is clamped to the manifoldby the cover.

The cover has partition means 95 which, with the cover defines chambers99 and 101 and which in effect outline two diaphragms 103 and 105 on themember 93.

A tubular valve 1117 is passed through an opening in diaphragm 103 andis clamped thereto by the washers 109 and nut 111. The left end 112 ofthe valve (Fig. seats in a recess 113 in the cover. The valve has acentral bore 115 which connects the suction chamber 53 in communicationwith a branch 117 of chamber 101 when the diaphragm 103 is moved to theright to open the valve. A compression spring 119 is supported at oneend on the projection 121 in chamber 53 and at the other end on a washer109 and serves to urge the valve closed.

A valve disc 123 together with suitable discs 125 are mounted on thediaphragm 105 with disc 123 in a position to sealingly engage seat 87 toclose port 85. A compression spring 127 seats on the cover and on onedisc 125 to urge the valve 123 toward its seat 87.

A channel 129, shown diagrammatically in Figure 5, connects thedischarge chamber 89 with the chamber 99. The opening 133 in the wall ofthis chamber is slightly larger than the exterior of the valve 107 sothat a restricted passage is formed between the valve and the opening133 which connects chamber 99 in communication with the branch 117 ofchamber 101.

As shown in Figure 2., chamber 53 is connected by a channel 135 to thesuction chamber of the pump 139 while a channel 141 connects thedischarge chamber of the pump with the discharge chamber 89.

The valves and diaphragms are shown in their normal positions in Figure5, that is, they are shown in the positions they occupy when the pump139 is idle or delivering liquid through the nozzle at substantiallynear the maximum rate. When the flow is materially throttled, the pumpwill tend to deliver the same quantity of liquid per revolution andpressure in the discharge chamber 89 will rise. If no by-pass wereprovided, the pump and motor would eventually stall and the motor wouldheat and possibly burn out.

In the disclosed structure, the pressure in chamber 89 is transmittedthrough channel 129 to chamber 99 and through the restricted passage133, branch 117 to chamber 101. Thus under normal pressure conditionsthe pressure across diaphragm 105 is balanced. However,

when the pressure in chamber 89 is sufficient to displace diaphragm 103against the resistance of spring 119, the valve 112 moves away from itsseat in recess 113 so that the chamber 101 is connected in communicationwith the suction chamber 53 through branch 117 and bore of the valve.The pressure in chamber 89 now being substantially greater than that inchamber 101, the spring 127 will be overcome and valve 123 will leaveseat 87 so that liquid may now circulate from the discharge chamber 89through ports 85, 83 chamber 53, suction: channel 135, pump 139, anddischarge channel 141 to chamber 89.

Since the opening of valve 123 exposes a considerably greater area ofdiaphragm 105 to the pressure from chamber 89, the valve, once it opens,will remain open without fluttering until the pressure condition inchamber 89 drops to a value which can be overcome by spring 119. Whenthis occurs the pressures in chambers 101 and 89 again equalize andspring 127 will close the valve. Since the effective area of the valve123 now exposed to the pressure in chamber 89 is small, the valve willhave no tendency to flutter. It will stay definitely closed.

It has been found by test that the by-pass wattage of the motor issubstantially less than the normal operating wattage. The valve issubstantially noiseless and is positive in operation.

Pump and motor The pump 139 may be of any desirable positivedisplacement type. The pump shown in the drawings is an internal geartype comprising the pump body 151, a port plate 153 which is containedwithin the body, rests on the manifold 7 and is pinned thereto by pin155. The plate 153 has the ports and 141, noted above, formed therein.It is also provided with an eccentrically disposed spindle 157 whichrotatably carries the internal pinion 159 of the pump. Further it isalso provided with an upwardly directed crescent shaped projection 161which extends into the clearance space between the pinion 159 and theexternal gear 163 which is mounted on the shaft 165 of the electricmotor 167.

A rotary seal 169 of any desired style may be disposed between the gearand the end bell 171 of the motor. The pump body is fastened to themanifold and motor by suitable screws 173, 175. A drain passage 177 isprovided in the end bell and communicates with the rotary seal at oneend and is open to atmosphere at the other to permit the escape of anyliquid which passes the seal. A slinger ring 179 is provided on theshaft for throwing liquid therefrom. These devices are used to preventliquid from getting into the motor.

Discharge structure As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the manifold 7 isprovided with an upwardly directed outlet 181 from the discharge chamber89 which is threaded to receive the discharge pipe 183 which has itsupper end screwed into the inlet connection 185 of a meter 187 of anydesired type. The meter outlet 189 contains a nipple 190 which screwsinto an outlet and hose supporting fitting 191. The fitting is tapped at193 to receive the coupling 195 of a hose 197 (Figures 1 and 3).

The discharge fitting 191 is provided at its upper side with a cradle199 to retain a bight of the hose 197. As seen in Figure 3, the Walls ofthe cradle are curved to conform to the periphery of the hose and alsocurved longitudinally as shown at 201 in Figure 1 to conform somewhat tothe curvature of the bight of the hose.

The meter 187 is preferably provided with a register 200 having agraduated dial 203 and fast and slow indicators 205, 207 which areresettable by the knob 209 which extends through the dial glass 211.

The free end of the hose 197 is provided with a valved nozzle 213 asshown particularly in Figure 7. The stem 215 of the valve is actuated bya trigger 217 which is pivotally mounted at 219 on the guard 211. Thenozzle includes a spout 223 which-is adapted to entera boot 225'which isfixed to'the end of a rock shaft 227.

The nozzle is provided with a hook 229 which is adapted to beinserted'through an opening 231- formed in the'upper, projecting portion233 ofthe boot and to engage-said projecting portion to support thenozzle.

The shaft 227 (Fig. 1) is rotatably mounted in a suitable boss 235 ofthe switch box 237 which is supported on'the upper end bell 239 of themotor 167'by the bolts 230 and nuts 232 as shown in' Figure 3; A-washer' 241 and a pair of curved or hook levers 243, 245 are fixed tothe end of shaft 227 by a screw 247. This structure holds the shaft inplace in the boss.

The switch b'ox is'provided, on the side adjacent the boot with apairiof stops 249, 251. The lugs merge into a projection 253 which isperforated at 255 to receive the bolt of a padlock 263.

A-stop lug 257 is formed on the boot in a position to be moved intocontactwith the lugs 249, 251 as the boot pivots with the rock shaft'andthus limits the pivotal motion of the boot.

A locking lug-259 extends upwardly'from the boot, parallel to the lug253and is perforated at 261. The holes 255, 251 are aligned when the stop257 is in contact with'the stop 251; The lock 263 is received in theholes to lock the boot in the described position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, a double pole single throw switchmechanism 265 is mounted in the switch box. The switch actuator 267 whenmoved to the right in Figure 2 opens the switch and closes it when movedto the left.

The switch actuator is moved to the right by lever 243 when the shaft247 is rotated clockwise (Figure 3) and to the left by the lever 245when the shaft is rocked counter-clockwise.

A terminal strip 269 is mounted in the switch box for convenience inwiring the switch to the main line. The terminal 279 is connected bywire 281 to one blade 275 of the switch 277 while the other terminal 271is connected by wire 273 to blade 283 of the other switch 284. Wires 285and 287 connect the other blades 289, 291 of the switches 277 and 284 tothe motor 167.

The switch box is provided with an outlet 293 which is adapted toreceive a conduit 295 for the power line not shown.

As shown in Figure l, the switch box is provided With a removable cover297 which is held in sealing relation on the box by screws 299. Accessis thus provided to the interior of the box to facilitate the connectingof the power line to the terminal block.

Operation Assuming that the pump has been connected with a suitableliquid supply either directly to a suction pipe at the boss 5 or to asupporting pipe such as 1 with the suction pipe 23 immersed in theliquid to be pumped, the operator will first reset the register 200 tozero by rotating knob 209 in the proper direction. He will then graspthe nozzle 213 and disengage hook 229 from the boot 225 by tilting thenozzle slightly in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 7) and moving itto the left. When the nozzle is free from the boot he may rotate boot225 counterclockwise to close the motor switch 265, which closure iseffected by the rotation of shaft 227 and arm 245 with the boot. Stops249, 257 limit the rotation of the boot to prevent damage to the switch.The boot and switch are held in the position described by the weight ofthe closed end of the boot.

It should be noted that the removal of the nozzle and the rotation ofthe boot may be accomplished simultaneously with one hand if desired.

The pump being driven by the motor draws liquid up through the suctionpipe, through the check valve 31, strainer 67, 69 and chamber 53 intothe pump 139. The pump then discharges the liquid, under pressure,through chamber 89; pipe 183', connection 185-, meter 187, conduits'189, 190,; 193 and hose 197 to the nozzle 213. Since" the nozzle valveisusually closed for the period required by the operator .to reach thefuel'tank, the pressure in chamber 89'will reach a maximum so that theby-pass valve will opento preventstalling of the motor. As describedabove, the discharge pressure will be transmitted to diaphragm 103 byduct 129 and will depress valve 107 against the action of spring 119.This vents chamber 101 to the suction chamber 53 so' that the pressurein chamber 89 may overcome spring 127 and valve 123 will open theby-pass' port and allow liquid to circulate to the suction chamber 53and'the pump.

When the nozzle valve -is opened, liquid will be discharged to thecontainer andv the'pressure inchamber 89 will drop. Thistpressure beinginsufficient to overcome spring 119, the pilot valve 107 will be closed.The pressure in chamber 101'wi1l become equal to that in chamber 89 by.the leakage through clearance 107-133. Spring 127 and diaphragmwill'now. overcome. the pressure in chamber 89 and close valve 123.

It will be understood that as the nozzle valve is throttled the pressurein .chamber 89 will buildup and'when the bypass pressure. is reached theby-pass valve will reopen a distance suflicient to prevent the motorfrom stalling.

In the structure shown in the drawings, the liquid is displaced from thetank by air which enters the ports 11 of coupling 3 and passes betweenthe pipes 1 and 23 to the tank. The incoming air is filtered by thescreen 15 and entrance of water, snow, etc., through the ports 11 isprevented by the conical shield 13.

When the dispensing operation is completed, the nozzle is inserted inthe boot and hook 229 is engaged with the boot. The weight of the nozzlewill rotate the boot, shaft 227 and arm 243 clockwise (Figures 3 and 7)and open switch 265 to stop the pump motor. The rotation of the boot islimited by contact of stops 251 and 257.

It should be noted that the boot may be manually rotated to theswitch-off position and the nozzle may be inserted thereafter.

Further, as shown in Figure 8, the hose is draped down from the outletconnection 193 in a loop, is carried over the cradle 199, thence down inanother loop to the nozzle boot. A long hose may thus be used with theapparatus and may be stored out of contact with the ground.

The quantity of liquid dispensed is indicated on the register at thecompletion of the operation.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structureand arrangement of parts of the specific embodiments of the inventiondisclosed herein for purposes of illustration, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire tobe limited to such specific embodiments but desires protection fallingfairly within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power operated by-pass mechanism, the combination of a pumphaving suction and discharge openings, a manifold having suction anddischarge chambers communicating with the corresponding openings, saidmanifold defining a by-pass port in said discharge chamber whichcommunicates with the suction chamber, a cap mounted on said manifoldadjacent said port, a diaphragm mounted between said cap and port anddefining with said cap a diaphragm chamber, a by-pass valve mounted onsaid diaphragm for actuation by said diaphragm to close said portagainst the pressure in said discharge chamber, yieldable means on saidmanifold for urging said valve closed, means defining a conduitconnecting said suction and diaphragm chambers, a pilot valve mounted onsaid manifold for movement to open and close said conduit, biasing meansfor normally urging said pilot valve closed, a fluid motor mounted onsaid manifold and connected to actuate said pilot valve, means defininga conduit for connecting said motor With said discharge chamber to applydischarge pressure in a direction to open said pilot valve, meansdefining a conduit for connecting said motor with said suction chambetto apply suction pressure in a direction to close said pilot valve, saidmotor serving to open and close-said valve in response to the directionof unbalance of the forces exerted by discharge pressure, suctionpressure and biasing means, and means including a continuously openrestricted passage connecting said diaphragm chamber with the dischargechamber for applying discharge pressure to said diaphragm chamber tohold said by-pass valve closed when said pilot valve is closed and tostabilize the operation of the by-pass valve when the pilot valve isopen.

2. The structure defined by claim 1 in which said yieldable means forurging said by-pass valve closed comprises a spring exerting a force onsaid valve which is sufficient to overcome a discharge chamber pressurecapable of producing a substantial delivery but which is less thanby-pass pressure.

3. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said'cap defines a seat anda guide for said pilot valve, said guide and valve defining saidrestricted passage.

4. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said fluid motor comprises asecond diaphragm, and which includes a gasket disposed between said capand said manifold, said gasket and diaphragms being integral.

5. The structure defined by claim 1 wherein said cap includes a seat forsaid pilot valve and said pilot valve comprises a hollow member whichcommunicates at one end with said suction chamber and at the other endwith said diaphragm chamber, said hollow member and the passage betweensaid pilot valve and said seat when the valve is open, serving toconstitute said conduit defining means,

6. The structure defined by claim 5 wherein said cap defines a guide forsaid hollow member, and wherein said guide and member cooperate todefine said restricted passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,021,613 Sheppard Nov. 19, 1935 2,160,028 Moore May 30, 1939 2,267,793Hazard Dec. 30, 1941 2,397,267 Jauch et al. Mar. 26, 1946 2,409,975Curtis Oct. 22, 1946 2,493,929 Rittenhouse et al. Jan. 10, 19502,584,638 Staude Feb, 5, 1952 2,639,725 Albright May 26, 1953 2,745,425Jensen May 15, 1956

